LEARNING DAILY

John 20:1, Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.

“He is risen!”! “He is risen, indeed!” would be the reply from early Christians as they would greet each other. It was expressions of joy; the stone had been rolled away and the tomb was empty. The joy came because the Lord Jesus had been resurrected and He had accomplished victory over death and the grave. Pastor Ed Newton, Lead Pastor at Community Bible Church, said this weekend, “The stone has been rolled away and the grave is empty. The debt has been paid as Jesus Christ paid for every sinful thing you and I have ever done.” Pastor Jonathon Moore, Lead Pastor at NorthRock Church, said, “The resurrection changes things, changes everything; because of the empty tomb and the resurrection of Jesus, you and I are saved (when we place our faith and trust in Him).”

Read a little further and you will see the confusion of Mary Magdalane. “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” There have been various attempts to explain the disappearance of the body of Jesus. Conspiracy theories are not new. Matthew’s account of the resurrection explains the bribing of the guards by the chief priests to say His body had been stolen is only one account explained by Pastor Newton. Mary is in the tomb and sees two angels sitting where Jesus had been laid. It is then she tells them why she is crying.

One of the points made by Pastor Moore was, “The resurrection changes confusion into clarity”. Mary was confused about where the body had been taken. Confusion and loss made it difficult to recognize Jesus when she turned around and saw Him. The last time she had seen Him was after he had been severely beaten and been on the cross. The resurrected Lord looked different! It is understandable that in her condition she did not recognize Him. Even when he speaks to her, she does not recognize Him. But when He calls her by name, something in His voice causes her to Know this is the Lord. Pastor Moore made sure the understanding of Mary turning to Jesus was understood. The word repent means “to turnaround”. The only way to find contentment that is so sought after is to turn to Jesus.

One other aspect of the message given by Pastor Moore this weekend. He said, “The resurrection can change doubt into trust”. Read verses 24-28 and you will see the first appearance of Jesus to His disciples. Thomas was not there and when he heard of the appearance of the resurrected Christ, he doubted. He said he would not believe without seeing with his own eyes. After eight days, Jesus appeared again to the disciples. He went to Thomas and showed him His hands and His side. The proof of the resurrected Christ was clear, and he declared Him to be, “My Lord and my God!” Thomas stopped doubting and believed Jesus was his Lord.

“The resurrection changes things, changes everything!” Thomas “saw” and believed. The Lord Jesus, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Stop doubting and believe! Faith is believing without seeing and when we believe, He changes everything (Pastor Moore’s message).

Pastor Ed Newton began his message this weekend with the statement, “The best is yet to come”! Tomorrow’s blog will break that down!